Monument-National was transformed on Wednesday into a pulsating scene from a science fiction nightmare for Oneohtrix Point Never: MYRIAD. A part of the Red Bull Music Festival in Montreal, the production had travelled overnight from Paris after originally premiering in New York.
Hard to categorize, the four part performance travelled between medieval folk, with plucky harpsichord synths, electronic R&B with Lopatin singing softly, and experimental industrial soundscapes. Moody fractured melodies throughout, Daniel Lopatin and his four piece band filled the cavernous space with 100% heavy vibes.
Thursday, the final night of Montreal’s Red Bull Music Festival, saw the Société des Arts Technologiques flipped on its head, filled with lights, and packed with people. In collaboration with Pop Montreal, the event served to pass the torch from one festival to the next.
The show opened with an incredible set from Montreal’s own Honeydrip, energetic until the last moment, she played as the room filled up and set the tone for the evening.
Dressed as a cheerleader, and with the mouth of a sailor, rapper bbymutha shook things up. She made no apologies for being a bad-ass mother on her track Lil’ Bitch, “Listen here you lil’ bitch, I don’t owe a nigga shit / I can suck my own dick, I can pay my own rent.”
Yes please. More rappers like this.
The beat didn’t stop from the moment Doss took the stage until the moment she vanished into the shadows. Epic throwback synths climbed to the rafters before dropping like bombs across the dance floor. Maxed out trance anthems for life.
Littlebabyangel took a playful and relaxed approach to the whole performance, spending most of the show on the speakers in front of the stage, and at one point joining the crowd itself.
SOPHIE’s set started moody and somber before bending, blending, and exploding into a frenetic sonic loot bag. If you’ve never heard her play, imagine what circus music might sound like a thousand years in the future. Very exciting.
Red Bull has a reputation for finding interesting venues and then sparing no expense to transform them into something new. They have the best sound, fantastic artists, and they always leave you with the impression of a team that cares deeply about the music they champion. This October Red Bull Music Festival comes to Toronto, and you know where we’ll be.